SINGER: HARLEM YU (HA LIN) (YU CHENG QING)
WHO IS HE: SUPER HOST OF THE VARIETY PROGRAMME SUPER SUNDAY/ HUBBY
TO ANNIE YI/ LOSER AT TAIWAN'S GOLDEN MELODY AWARDS
TITLE OF ALBUM: HAI XIAO (TIDAL WAVES)
RELEASED BY: SONY MUSIC
At this time when I am writing my review, according to reports,
Harlem's album has passed 250,000 and is the saviour of the bad
record sales market.
Frankly, I never wanted to get this album. It was not really on my
list of must get albums...and it was not becoz of the 250,000 that
I decided to get this album...it was partly due to the
concert.
It is no doubt Harlem is a capable host...he needs no host to
create that kinda atmosphere...but i dislike him for doing
covers...
Back to this album, I find that it is one of the best for the first
half of the year...in terms of of lyrics, music, and singing
style...yah...it's really good...a wide variety...it's as good as
Elva's if not better...Harlem produced this album, and wrote 8 out
of 10 tracks...the other 2 (HAI XIAO and QING FEI DE YI) is by a
local composer Tang Xiao Kang (no idea who he is)...anyway, lyrics
maestro Adam Hsu/Xu Chang De wrote 9 out of 10 songs in this album.
Reportedly, Xu Changde had some differences with Harlem at first,
but it worked out nicely in the end. Although, I still like Lin Xi
and Yao Qian, Xu Changde did a good job with the lyrics thanks to
Harlem's constant haranguing until Xu Changde got so
scared...Harlem made calls to Xu and even made Xu convince him that
the lyrics to Hai Xiao is touching. Xu took abt 9 months to a year
for this album, normal cases 2 to 3 months. So u should be able to
see the quality of the lyrics...2nd to elva's Ming Tian
album.
Was kinda upset over HAI XIAO...it's a nice song...but Harlem's
singing sounds so bitter and sad...very sa gou xue...that kinda
feeling...okie...but still a nice song...can show off some vocal
prowess...
As the album progresses, you can realise that Harlem's forte is in
his zhuan yin. Track 2 is very R&B and Harlem laps it up with
confidence. Track 3, and Track 7 (QING FEI DE YI, my favourite,
happens to be the theme song of the tv serial LIU XING HUA YUAN) is
very folksy, very Harlem like, and this is the two tracks which he
really excels in.
There are other ballads and my of my favourites is Track 4, YING
HUA L.A. TOKYO...beautiful music...as well as TRACK 8 GOODBYE PETER
PAN'S WORLD. No matter whether it's ballads or folksy or even Fast
numbers, personal favourite is HUAN YING GUANG LIN DISCO...with a
disco kinda arrangement...COOL!!! GROOVY! REMINDS ME OF ABBA.
Don't miss out on Track 6 AI DAO DI...kinda touching...is this
track meant for Annie Yi?
Harlem has been losing for the last few years at the Taiwan's
Golden Melody Awards...certainly...I hope with this album, he would
be able to get the crown for best male vocalist. This is a totally
fresh album, and without strong competition...i would wanna him to
win.
OVERALL RATING: A-
BEST LYRICS: ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD...
